Senate Passes Hassan-Backed Bill to Support Shadow Wolves’ Efforts to Secure Southern Border

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation, cosponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan, to classify the Shadow Wolves unit as special agents. This classification allows Shadow Wolves to patrol, investigate, interdict, and secure the border.

Shadow Wolves are members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who work for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Shadow Wolves patrol the 76-mile stretch of land the Nation shares with Mexico and are known for their ability to track drug smugglers as they attempt to smuggle illegal commodities across the border.

“The Shadow Wolves have extensive experience working to strengthen our security at the southern border and dismantle drug trafficking networks,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill will help them better execute their important mission. I urge my colleagues to continue to move this bill forward – it’s a commonsense step to strengthen drug interdiction and border security efforts.”

Senator Hassan’s bill reclassifies Shadow Wolves from tactical officers to special agents, allowing the unit to better investigate and track cross-border criminal activity. The bill also provides the ability to expand the Shadow Wolves program to other parts of the border.

Senator Hassan is working across the aisle to strengthen border security as a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which recently voted to advance a bipartisan bill that Senator Hassan cosponsored that gives CBP more authority to make repairs to Southern border ports of entry. Additionally, the recent government funding bill that Senator Hassan helped craft included $23 billion to help Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement address the high volume of migrants at the Southern border. Senator Hassan has also worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided critical tools to CBP to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids. Senator Hassan also recently led a field hearing in Manchester through her role as chair of the Emerging Threats subcommittee to examine ways that Congress can help support law enforcement’s efforts to stem the flow of drugs into community, including at the southern border.

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